Lane chief wants three more wins to clinch the title

RAYNERS Lane chairman Martin Noblett reckons three more wins will be enough to secure the Hellenic League Division One East title.

The Lane are four points clear of Headington Amateurs at the top of the division and are preparing for what Noblett is calling a ‘crunch week’ in their season.

Third-placed Chinnor are the visitors on Saturday before Dene Gardner’s men take on Chalfont Wasps in a vital Tuesday night clash next week.

Several Rayners Lane first-team squad members were taking part in a reserve fixture on Tuesday night as the club gears up for a final push for the league crown.

“This week will be the crunch one for us,” explained Noblett. “We’ve played more games than a few of the others have, due to the weather, and some of them are having to play three games a week now,

“Chinnor are a good team but we find that we tend to play better against the top sides. We don’t seem to turn it on against the poor sides but generally we’ve performed better against the better teams. Chinnor haven’t played for about three weeks as well so that will be interesting.

“Three wins should guarantee it for us because we’ve got a very good goal difference. Chalfont always raise their game against us because it is a bit of a derby, so I never count my chickens before they hatch. But the first team management have done a fantastic job this year and it’s gone very well.”

The Lane are free from distractions having been knocked out of the Southern Combination Cup last Thursday night by Hanworth Villa.

Despite losing the game on penalties, Noblett took plenty of positives from the narrow defeat and hopes the team can build on that performance this weekend.

“It was a good performance against a team from a three divisions above us,” said Noblett. “Their goalkeeper was the best player on the park. We thought they’d bring a reserve team but it was their firsts and we took them right the way through to penalties.”